THE SHADOW IN THE DARK

ANIYA’S POV

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Someone was in the office.

I couldn’t see anything.

The power had gone out without warning, leaving the entire floor in darkness. The only light came from the faint glow of my phone screen.

I tightened my grip on it.

“Who is there?”

No answer.

I took a step backward.

The sound of another step came from the hallway.

Closer.

I immediately called KC.

The call connected.

“Aniya?”

“KC.”

My voice shook.

“Where are you?”

“In my office.”

“What happened?”

“The lights went out. Someone is here.”

Silence.

Then his voice became dangerously calm.

“Stay where you are.”

“I can’t see anything.”

“Don’t move.”

Another sound came from the hallway.

I covered my mouth to stop myself from gasping.

“KC, someone is coming.”

“I’m on my way.”

The call suddenly ended.

I stared at my phone.

“No.”

I tried calling again.

No signal.

My stomach dropped.

I heard footsteps again.

Closer.

I backed toward my desk.

Then the emergency lights flickered on.

For half a second, I saw a figure standing at the end of the hallway.

Tall.

Dressed in black.

My blood froze.

I stepped backward.

The lights went out again.

I heard the office door open.

I ran.

I grabbed the nearest object I could find and swung it behind me.

It hit something.

A curse came from behind me.

I screamed and ran toward the emergency exit.

The door wouldn’t open.

My hands shook as I pulled at the handle.

“Come on!”

Footsteps rushed toward me.

I turned.

The emergency lights came back on.

The man was standing several feet away.

His face was covered.

“Stay away from me!”

He moved closer.

I raised the object in my hand.

“Don’t come any closer.”

He laughed.

“You should have listened.”

I backed against the door.

“What do you want?”

“You know what we want.”

“I don’t.”

He reached into his jacket.

I froze.

Then the sound of a gunshot echoed through the hallway.

The man stumbled.

I screamed.

A second figure appeared behind him.

KC.

He moved with terrifying speed.

The man dropped to the floor.

KC immediately rushed toward me.

“Aniya.”

I couldn’t move.

He grabbed my shoulders.

“Are you hurt?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He looked over me quickly, checking for injuries.

Then his eyes hardened.

“Ethan!”

Ethan and two security men rushed into the hallway.

“Get him.”

They dragged the attacker away.

I stood frozen.

KC turned back to me.

“Look at me.”

I did.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Did he touch you?”

“No.”

His jaw tightened.

“Good.”

I suddenly realized I was shaking.

KC noticed.

He pulled me into his arms.

For a second, I froze.

Then I held onto him.

My face pressed against his chest as the fear I’d been holding back finally broke through.

“I was so scared.”

His arms tightened around me.

“I know.”

“I thought…”

I couldn’t finish.

“You’re safe now.”

I closed my eyes.

His heartbeat was steady beneath my cheek.

For some reason, that was the first thing that made me feel safe since the lights went out.

After a few minutes, I pulled away.

KC looked down at me.

“I’m sorry.”

I frowned.

“For what?”

“I should have had security here.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

“I should have.”

His voice sounded almost angry at himself.

I touched his arm.

“This isn’t your fault.”

He looked at me.

“You don’t know that.”

“What do you mean?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned toward Ethan.

“Find out who sent him.”

Ethan nodded.

“And KC?”

“Yes?”

“We found something.”

He handed KC a phone.

KC looked at the screen.

His expression changed.

“What?”

I stepped closer.

“What is it?”

He hesitated.

Then he showed me.

There was a photograph on the screen.

It was me.

At my fashion studio.

Standing beside my desk.

But the photograph had been taken before the attacker entered.

I stared at it.

“How did they get that?”

Ethan answered.

“There’s a hidden camera in the office.”

My stomach dropped.

“Someone installed a camera?”

“Yes.”

I looked around my office.

The walls suddenly felt suffocating.

“How long has it been there?”

“We don’t know.”

KC’s expression became darker.

“Find it.”

Ethan nodded.

I turned toward KC.

“This isn’t just about you anymore.”

“No.”

His eyes met mine.

“It isn’t.”

I swallowed.

“Someone has been watching me for weeks.”

“Yes.”

“And they knew exactly when I would be alone.”

“Yes.”

I shook my head.

“How?”

KC didn’t answer.

Then Ethan’s phone rang.

He listened for a few seconds before looking at KC.

“We found the camera.”

“Where?”

“In her office.”

He held up a tiny device.

My stomach twisted.

“Can you trace it?”

“We already did.”

KC looked at him.

“And?”

Ethan hesitated.

“The signal was being transmitted to a private server.”

“Whose?”

Ethan looked at me.

Then at KC.

“Corbin Vale’s company.”

Silence.

My heart dropped.

“No.”

KC stared at the device.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head.

“Corbin wouldn’t do this.”

Ethan said nothing.

I looked at KC.

“You said not to accuse him without evidence.”

“We have evidence now.”

I felt sick.

“But why would he?”

KC’s expression hardened.

“I don’t know.”

Then the attacker, who had been dragged into another room, suddenly shouted.

“You’re asking the wrong question!”

Everyone froze.

KC turned toward the hallway.

“What did you say?”

The man’s voice echoed through the office.

“You think Corbin is the one behind this?”

A dark smile entered his voice.

“You really don’t know anything.”

KC’s eyes narrowed.

“Bring him here.”

The security men dragged him into the room.

The man’s face was bruised, but he was smiling.

He looked directly at me.

“You shouldn’t have left your husband.”

I stepped backward.

“Who sent you?”

He laughed.

“Ask your new lover.”

KC stepped forward.

“Who sent you?”

The man looked at him.

“You already know.”

KC’s expression changed.

The attacker smiled.

“Your past is coming back for you, Sterling.”

Then he leaned toward me.

“And this time, you’re the weakness they can use.”

I felt KC’s hand close around mine.

His voice was cold.

“Take him away.”

The men dragged the attacker out.

I looked at KC.

“What does he mean?”

KC didn’t answer.

“KC.”

He finally looked at me.

“I need to tell you something.”

My heart raced.

“What?”

His eyes were filled with something I had never seen before.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For me.

“The people coming after me aren’t interested in my business.”

He tightened his grip around my hand.

“They want revenge.”

I swallowed.

“Revenge for what?”

His voice dropped.

“For something I did years ago.”

And judging by his expression, I was beginning to realize that the most dangerous part of KC Sterling’s life wasn’t what he did now.

It was what he had done before I ever knew his name.